Rosa Lambert — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| | | ROSA DAMBERT. which had evidently either come off in the wild flight of its wearer, or else had been let loose in the dread that the combustibles might overtake it. T seized upon this domino: it was’ of elegant fashion, richly embroidered: and without pausing ‘for an instant to reflect on the propriety or im- propriety of self-appropriating'it, I put it on. In- deed a single instant was: sufficient for me to envelop myself therewith. The hood was drawn over my countenance: I was once more effectually disguised. Now I stopped short and looked around in ' search of Alvanly. At that moment a masque, wearing the costume of a King’s Page in the time of Henry VIII, accosted me, and said in a hur- ried manner, “ This way, Lucia—this way !” Good heavens; it was:the voice of Horace Rock- ingham! I recognised it at once. Astonishment riveted me to the spot; and between) the slight opening which I had left in the hood, did I survey him. His costume was rich and elegant—ad- mirably becoming his slight, short, symmetrical figure; and a black silk mask completely covered his countenance. “Come, Lucia—come, I say!’ he again whis- pered in a hurried and excited’ manner, as he doubtless fancied that I hesitated. “Now is the opportunity to converse for a' moment, while all is in confusion !” i regained my self-possession in-an instant. I saw that Iwas taken for Lady Lucia Calthorpe : it was evident that there: was’ some appointment, or at least some kind of understanding’ betwixt Horace Rockingham and Lord Eveleigh’s daughter: perhaps everything was not réally broken: off be- tween them? At all events I was’ resolved to know, uf possible. “Come!” he said: and snatching at my hand, he hurried me along with him. away from the vicinity of the pagoda. We plunged into an avenue’ where the varie- gated lamps were only suspended around the en- trance; and a few moments brought us’ into the almost complete obscurity caused by the over- arching trees. There was a seat at a short dis- tance down this avenue; and thither Horace led me, placing himself by my 'side. “T thought T should’ never get an opportunity to speak to you,” Rockingham at once went on to say, with the same rapid utterance as before. “ Your father seemed determined: to keep you to himself, just for all the world as if he suspected that you had arranged to meet me here. I did not get your letter and the invitation-card in time yesterday to send you an answer by the messenger who brought them: but of course you felt sure that I should come. You did well to send me a blank card: and I filled it up with the name: of smith. I made sure that out of such an immense concourse there must’ be “several Smiths, and that it was therefore the safest one to adopt. But. to the point, Lucia! I never saw such a letter in my life as you wrote me: it was half bitterness, half plaintiveness. You say that you can’t pos- sibly conceal your situation much longer—that you are afraid your maid already suspects it—and that I must marry you at once. But my dear girl Why don’t you speak ?” Horace stopped short—and paused for a few moments, evidently waiting for an answer. Though oY —— upon my ears, I was nevertheless sufficiently col- lected to be aware that some part must be played in order to sustain his belief that it was really Lady Lucia Calthorpe whom he was address- ing. What better could I do—or what would seem more natural under the circumstances—than to sob and weep? I accordingly pretended to do both. “Well, well, Lucia,” continued Horace,“ I have no doubt you feel somewhat unhappy; and I am really sorry forit. You know very well I meant to marry you at the time—and would have doneso if your father had not broken it off.. But things are rather altered now; and though what I am going to tell you is of course’ a profound secret, yet I must reveal it to you, so as'to convince you that I am not trying to shufile unkandsomely out of an.engagement. The fact is, Lucia, my father has just sustained such a tremendous: loss by an unlucky speculation into which he was foolish enough to enter, that it is ten to one he will be totally ruined in a few weeks. Nothing but a miracle can save him. He confessed this to me with tears in his eyes yesterday morning’; and de- pend upon it, it must be a very serious thing in- deed that. could bring tears into his eyes. So now, Lucia, you know the truth. Of course you will keep it to yourself: indeed, you ean have no in- terest in mentioning 1t; and your own good sense will show you that it would be utter maduess for me to do as you ask and runaway with you. I could not keep a: wife: perhaps im a short time i sha’n’t be able to keep myself. Youmust manage for the best... Make a confidante of your mother —or else of your aunt, old Lady Sudbury ; and the affair will be hushed up. You can go into the country or onthe Continent ;.and. if the child lives But persons are coming! You go back that way—I will hasten off in this direction!” With these words he darted away, like an arrow shot from a bow, farther along the avenue, and was in a moment lost in the obscurity: while I advanced towards the illuminated entrance—and passing by a group of masques who were entering the shady walk, and whose voices had met our ears, I emerged forth again upon the brilliantly lighted grounds. I had not a minute’s leisure to reflect upon the astounding revelations I had learnt from Horace’ Rockingham’s lips, ere I beheld Mr. Al- vanly hastening about with my veil and mask. in his hands, searching’ for me in every direction. “Here I am, Gustavus!” IL said, quickly accost- ing him. “You, Rose?” he: ejaculated, in amazement. “ But whence that domino?” “TT lost those things,’ I answered, pointing to what he carried in his) hands, “in the con- fusion of the flight.. I was bewildered and terri- fied at: finding myself suddenly stripped of my disguise—this one lay in my path—I snatched it up—put it on—and have been looking for you ever since :’’—for I did not choose to mention a single syllable in reference to the startling adven- ture I had. just experienced with Horace Rock- ingham. | “Well, Rose,’ he observed; laughing heartily at my explanations, “ you did wisely in one sense’: but this assumption of a garb not your own, might have led to singular complications—particularly,” Gomichdoo astounded at the revelation which had just fallen gs) (E (0)